I heard it on the radio 1 this morning. My immediate thought was do we need a two tier system? I experienced the o-level /cse years. The syllabuses were slightly different. It can mean that borderline pupils can get put in the wrong group and therefore if they suddenly shine, will not be able to gain a higher grade then earlier predicted.

Also, In grammar school areas, it will put greater pressure on GS, If they are perceived as o level schools, and non GS as CSE schools. I think it will provide a greater divade.

Although the system worked in the past, I don't think changing the system needs such a major upheaval. Cleverer pupils get higher grades,less able get lower grades. I'd prefer the money to be poured into education to improve teaching, motivating the less interested pupils etc rather then trying to 'fix' it with glossy initiatives.

We have a two tier system already with Foundation and Higher level GCSEs.

And no, they absolutely cannot leave it alone. They are politicians - they are paid to do something and they want to be remembered. They never have to account for their decisions as they will be well out of the way by the time their impact has filtered through...if anything is left in place long enough to have any impact at all. That is what you get with an adversarial political system like we have here. We really should get out on the streets and protest - against constant change!

Agreed - totally fed up with politicians unable to leave things alone for 5 minutes ... the current system may not be perfect but the cost (and aggro and pointlessness) associated with changing it is huge!

As I said on the other thread, at this rate my 3 DCs will all sit different types of exams - one with modular and some controlled assessment, some coursework, the next one linear and the third one the new style O levels!!

Can't he just leave things alone until we see how the linear ones pan out. There are already 2 levels - foundaton and higher and at least children who mature later can switch from one to the other (wasn't that the original idea behind GCSEs?). Aargh!

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